Author: Floyd Hawkins

Volta Trucks, the Swedish electric truck start-up, is making significant strides towards its market launch in its home country. In an unexpected move, the company has decided to accelerate its plans and aims to have its vehicles on Swedish roads as early as the middle of this year, defying the previously set target of 2024. This bold decision comes as a result of a surge in demand from Scandinavian customers who are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Volta Trucks’ innovative electric vehicles. The Volta Zero, an all-electric truck available in 16- and 18-tonne versions, is deemed particularly well-suited for Scandinavian…

The Volkswagen Group is embarking on an ambitious billion-euro savings program for its renowned brand VW, aiming to enhance profitability and secure funds for investments in the transition to electric mobility. Unveiling its comprehensive restructuring plans to investors on 21 June, the group envisions a strategic overhaul that could potentially yield an annual upswing of at least three billion euros, with the possibility of even greater gains as it evaluates a reconfiguration of its model range. This transformative initiative encompasses the introduction of new vehicle models and the seamless integration of production processes with the group’s sister companies, namely Skoda,…

Introducing the revolutionary Comate CT e-bike, now seeking support through a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, exclusively for the European market. This remarkable e-bike sets itself apart by promising unparalleled comfort and a riding experience like no other. With its advanced torque sensor technology and meticulously designed frame, Comate claims that the CT e-bike offers an optimal riding posture for maximum ergonomic benefits. One of the key design features that contributes to the exceptional comfort of the CT e-bike is the ingenious adjustment made to the handlebar and seat tube. By raising the handlebar by an impressive 50 mm (~2.0 inches)…

Geely, the Chinese automaker and owner of Volvo/Polestar and Lotus, has increased its stake in Aston Martin. Geely previously owned 7.6% of the luxury automaker, but now holds a 17% stake, making it the third largest stakeholder in Aston Martin, following Lawrence Stroll and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. The increased stake signifies Geely’s growing involvement in Aston Martin, as expressed by Geely CEO Eric Li who mentioned the partnership’s focus on “exploring joint technology synergies and new growth opportunities.” Besides the financial boost, Geely’s expanded share of the Chinese luxury market and expertise in electrification present two significant…

At the Tesla Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday, an exciting development took place as JB Straubel, the co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Tesla, was elected to join the esteemed Board of Directors. Straubel, having previously ventured into the world of recycling with his company Redwood Materials after departing from Tesla, is now returning to his roots with a prominent seat on the board. This announcement marks a significant milestone for both Tesla and Straubel, highlighting the company’s commitment to embracing and harnessing the expertise of its visionary leaders. During the Annual General Meeting, Tesla also unveiled…

Volkswagen Group has announced a major restructuring of its software unit, CARIAD, with a new boss set to take over on June 1. Peter Bosch, former chief of production at Bentley, will replace Dirk Hilgenberg as head of the troubled unit. Bosch, who previously worked for Volkswagen before joining Bentley in 2017, is widely credited with turning around the fortunes of the luxury carmaker. His appointment comes amid ongoing software development issues that have delayed the launch of several new electric vehicles from the Group. See also: Volkswagen cooperate with Bosch to develop electric vehicles software CARIAD’s initial plans to…

In a recent development, the planned joint venture between Volkswagen Group and Bosch to equip battery cell factories has been called off. Instead, Volkswagen and its battery subsidiary PowerCo will pursue the plan alone, while Bosch will remain on board as a supplier. The original plan was to establish a supply chain for battery cell factories and to supply integrated battery production systems. The aim was to support battery cell and system manufacturers in ramp-up and maintenance on-site. However, Stefan Hartung, CEO of Bosch, confirmed that they are no longer setting up a joint venture, without giving any reasons for…

FEV has partnered with Impression Technologies (ITL), a specialist in aluminium metal, to develop an innovative battery housing concept for electric vehicles (EVs) that promises to optimally utilise the space available for energy storage. This has been achieved through the use of ‘HFQ technology’, which allows for the relocation of structurally relevant components to the outside and the integration of the battery housing into the overall vehicle. See also: Nextcell to Develop Semi-Solid State Batteries with Gel Inside The resulting ‘exoskeleton’ for battery housing creates space for additional battery cells, which can translate into more range for EVs. Alternatively, the…

SK IE Technology (SKIET), a South Korean company, has signed a letter of intent with Chinese battery manufacturer Sunwoda to supply separators for electric car batteries. Initially, the agreement will focus on the Chinese electric vehicle market, with SKIET supplying separators from its plant in Changzhou, China. This marks the first large-scale supply of EV battery separators to a Chinese EV battery manufacturer for SKIET, which has previously supplied separators for IT and electronics products to Sunwoda Group. See also: SK On Targets $2.4 Billion in New Funding Round for EV Battery Business However, the collaboration between the two companies…

New York City is accelerating its efforts to decarbonize transportation with the announcement of plans to establish 13 electric vehicle (EV) charging hubs at municipal parking facilities across the city. The project, which is a joint venture between the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA), aims to install around 50 fast-charging plugs. The roll-out is part of several initiatives aimed at bringing New York City closer to achieving the goal of having all residents living within 2.5 miles of a fast charger by 2035. The charging hubs will be located primarily…

Fortum, the Finnish state-owned energy company, has completed the construction of its lithium-ion battery recycling plant in Harjavalta, Finland. The new facility, which is the largest recycling plant in Europe in terms of capacity, combines mechanical and hydrometallurgical technologies to sustainably recycle end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and battery production waste on an industrial scale. The plant disassembles and mechanically processes the batteries at Fortum’s facility in Ikaalinen before collecting and transporting the resulting black mass, which contains critical metals, to Harjavalta for hydrometallurgical processing. This process recovers 95% of the valuable and critical metals from the black mass, which can be…

Leoni, a major automotive supplier, has announced the launch of a new business unit called ‘Charging & Power Solutions’. This new unit will integrate the company’s cable business and will focus on electromobility. The product suite, named ‘EcoSense’, will cover cables for all types of charging, including new liquid-cooled solutions for High Power Charging (HPC). Leoni’s latest addition to its range is the liquid-cooled HPC cables, which will complement its cables for 1- and 3-phase AC charging for domestic and public charging stations as well as DC charging for fast charging systems. According to the company, all products are approved…

According to Tesla’s latest 2022 Impact Report, the reliability of the Tesla Supercharging network remained exceptionally high throughout the year. The report states that the average uptime of Supercharger sites in 2022 was 99.95 percent, slightly lower than the previous year’s 99.96 percent but higher than the figures from 2018 to 2020. Tesla proudly referred to this achievement as “Chargers that just work” during their presentation. However, it is important to understand the methodology behind these statistics. Tesla defines uptime as the average percentage of Supercharger sites worldwide that had at least 50 percent daily capacity functioning throughout the year.…

The Nissan Ariya has attained an impressive 5-star rating and has confidently achieved a Weighted Overall Index of 9.6 at Green NCAP. This independent initiative aims to recognize car manufacturers and models that surpass minimum sustainability requirements and cause minimal harm to the environment. Green NCAP employs a rigorous testing process that thoroughly examines all aspects of a car’s sustainability credentials. The assessment consists of three distinct sections: Clean Air Tests, Energy Efficiency Tests, and Greenhouse Gases Tests. These evaluations are then used to calculate the model’s overall score. See also: 5-Star Euro NCAP rating For Hyundai IONIQ 6 electric…

In the ongoing debate surrounding how autonomous vehicles (AVs) should communicate with other road users, a team of researchers from Cornell University claims to have discovered a breakthrough solution. Their study, titled “Designing Robot Sound-In-Interaction: The Case of Autonomous Public Transport Shuttle Buses,” challenges developers to reevaluate their approach to AV sounds. Malte Jung, associate professor of information science and co-author of the study, emphasizes the need to shift focus from the “what” to the “when” of sound when creating sounds for social engagement. This perspective marks a significant departure from previous discussions surrounding AV communication. The research team focused…

Samsung SDI recently presented its groundbreaking advancements in solid-state battery technology during the InterBattery 2023 expo. One of the notable innovations showcased was their proprietary Super-Gap Edge technology. To test the feasibility of mass production, Samsung’s team plans to launch a pilot production “S line” for anode-less cells in the latter half of this year. The Chairman of Samsung, Mr. Lee, personally inspected the solid-state battery production line not long ago, emphasizing the company’s commitment to this cutting-edge technology. Samsung’s solid-state cells employ a stable oxide electrolyte instead of the flammable lithium hexafluorophosphate electrolyte solution found in conventional batteries. This…

BYD, the world’s second-largest electric vehicle manufacturer, has been making significant strides in the EV market, and its success has not gone unnoticed by Tesla. With a diverse fleet of electric vehicles and its own blade battery technology, BYD has become Tesla’s most formidable direct competitor, as acknowledged by Elon Musk himself. The company is expanding into niches where Tesla does not have a presence, such as affordable compact EVs for the mass market. BYD recently launched its first affordable electric car for the mass user, the Seagull. The top model of this EV costs less than US$14,000 and can…

Alpine made headlines in early 2021 with their announcement to transform into a fully electric brand. They unveiled their ambitious “Dream Garage” project, featuring three distinct cars: a compact hatchback designed for individual use, a crossover suitable for a group, and a sports car perfect for weekend adventures. While the electric GT X-Over crossover has already been spotted in test mule form, the first vehicle to be revealed will be the hot hatch. However, it won’t be the production version; instead, it will be a concept called A290_β (A290 “beta”). The global premiere is scheduled for May 9, preceding a…

Tesla is moving forward with the production of 4680-format battery cells at its Texas plant, with the company making an improved version of the cylindrical cell already. The company is also set to make its cathode material in Austin before the end of the year. Drew Baglino, a high-ranking manager at Tesla, revealed during a conference call that the company will make the first generation tabless cell in Texas and a “second mote manufacturable one.” The 4680 cylindrical cells, unveiled at Tesla’s Battery Day in 2020, will significantly reduce battery costs by up to 50% due to several innovations. However,…

Just Eat, the online food delivery company, has announced plans to replace its entire corporate sales fleet in the UK with electric vehicles (EVs) by 2025. The move follows the company’s commitment to global sustainability, and the first 12 EVs, including the Cupra Born and VW ID.3, have already hit the road. While the UK fleet is made up of 175 diesel cars, the company’s goal is to ensure that all corporate and sales car fleets are electric by 2030. Just Eat currently operates in several cities in the UK, including London, Manchester, and Liverpool, as well as remote towns…